Novel matting for strip photos

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a novel mat that may be used to mount at least one photo strip comprising a mat of standard length and width to be accepted by a standard sized commercial frame having a viewing side and a back side. The mat has at least one generally rectangular opening of a size smaller in length and width than a standard strip photo and a self-adhesive strip the back side of the mat along the rectangular opening to adhere the photo to the mat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from provisional patent application serial no. 60/708,681 filed 16 Aug. 2005 and is herein incorporated in its entirety by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to matting for displaying photos in a picture frame. More particularly, matting for displaying strip photos in a picture frame.

2. Description of Related Art

A large number of mats are available commercially for mounting standard sized photographs or other pieces of two-dimensional art. These mats vignette the art when secured within a frame adding a professional look to the artwork displayed. When a particular piece of art or a photo is prepared in a size which is not consistent with the standard frames sold by vendors the only options available are to prepare the mat themselves or have it prepared at substantial cost.

Over the years there has been at least one device utilized regularly at county fairs, amusement parks, carnivals, circus' and the like that allow the customers to memorialize their visit to the event in a photo. The photo booths provide a small area that is relatively secluded where the individual may pose and have a series of pictures taken. Those photos are then processed on a strip of photographic paper and deposited in a receptacle for the individual.

Even though strip photos have been around for several decades no standard frame matting to mount these photos for display is commercially available. Consequently, there is a need for a mat that can mount one or more strip photos in a similar manner as standard sized photos in a frame.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novel mat for mounting at least one photo strip comprising a mat having a viewing side and a back side and at least one rectangular opening to receive a strip photo, the rectangular opening is of a length and a width smaller than the strip photo and the back side having a means for adhering the photo strip along the perimeter of the rectangular opening of the mat.

In one embodiment the mat is provided for a picture frame and more particularly for a standard sized picture frame. If the mat is provided in standard picture framing sizes it may have dimensions 8″×10″, 9″×12″, 10″×13″, 11″×14″, 12″×16″, 16″×20″ or 18″×24″. Alternatively, the mat may be provided in a standard size for a scrapbook such as 8½×11″ or 12″×12″.

In another embodiment the mat may be made of metal, wood, glass, plastic, polymer, paper, cardboard, or magnetic material. If magnetic material is used the size and shape may vary substantially depending on the creativity and desire of the user. For example, the magnetic material could be cut into a standard picture framing size, a size larger or smaller than the standard picture framing sizes, or irregular sizes or shapes. If the mat is provided in irregular sizes or shapes it may be in a geometric shape such as a diamond or elongated rectangle, or a fanciful shape such as a living thing like a tree, animal, bird, fish, or plant, or an inanimate object like a building, fence, desk, or chair or a part of nature like a mountain, cloud or a planet or an imaginary thing like a cartoon character.

In yet another embodiment the rectangular openings may be provided in the sizes for standard strip photos such as for example approximately 1⅝″ by approximately 8″ (1⅝×8″) and approximately 2″ by approximately 8½″ (2″×8½″).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Not Applicable

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein have the same meaning as are commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs. All patents, patent applications and publications referred to throughout the disclosure herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that there is a plurality of definitions for a term herein, those in this section prevail.

The term “photo strip” as used herein refers to a group of photos usually taken within mobile photo booths set up at fairs, amusement parks, circus' and the like. With the payment of a proscribed fee photographic images of the subjects posing within the booth are taken at specific time intervals and are developed on a single strip of photo paper. These strips are generally of a standard size such as 1⅝″×8″ and 2″×8½″.

The term “adhesive means” as used herein refers to methods and compositions that may be used to adhere one item to another either permanently or reversibly. Preferably the adhesive used with the present invention allow the photo strips to be reversibly affixed, without damaging the photos, to the back of the mat so that they may be reorganized or replaced as desired by the user. Adhesives such as rubber cement or double-sided tape may be used with the present invention.

The device of the present invention is a mat system that allows the user to mat 1⅝″×8″ and 2″×8½″ strip photos, usually gotten by vending machines at fairs, carnivals and am amusement parks, in standard size photo and art frames sold at any store. It allows these strip photos to be displayed in the standard frame neatly matted so it can be enjoyed sitting on a table or hung on a wall. The mat of the present invention may be prepared to frame strip photos for either a 12″×12″ or 8½″×11″ standard scrapbook or made from magnetic sheets for displaying strip photos on metal surfaces such as on refrigerators and locker doors.

The mats of the present invention may be prepared using commercially available pre-cut or uncut mat board or quality poster board. Mat board is available in art supply and craft stores and made of compressed paper fiber in an array of colors and sizes. Manufacturers of mat board include Paterson Photographic (Douglasville, Ga.) and Nielsen Bainbridge (Paramus, N.J.).

Poster board can be used for preparing mats of the present invention. Poster board comes in a variety of sizes, colors and designs. One manufacturer of poster board is Royal Consumer Product (Norwalk, Conn.).

Magnet Sheets (with or without an adhesive back) are widely available and can be cut for strip photo matting. The adhesive backed magnetic sheets come in bulk sizes of 24″×100″ for adaptation. Those that do not have adhesive are available in sheets of 24″×48″. Adaptations include the application of color and/or designs directly on the magnetic sheet or by adhering the color or pattern on the magnetic sheet by the application of a decal. One manufacturer of magnetic sheets is Magnet Sales and Manufacturing (Culver City, Calif.).

Scrapbook sheets for scrap booking are widely available in craft, discount stores and specialty shops. Scrapbook sheets come in an array of sizes and designs. The most common sizes being 12″×12″ and 8½″×11″. The scrapbook sheets are composed of heavier paper provided in a number of colors and may be printed with designs. One of the many manufactures of scrapbook sheets is Provo Craft and Novelty Spanish Fork (Provo, Utah).

The mats of the present invention may be prepared for a variety of commercially available frame sizes, including for example 8″×10″, 9″×12″, 10″×13″, 11″×14″, 12″×16″, 16″×20″ and 18″×24″.

The configuration of the mat will depend on its use (i.e. picture frame, scrap book or magnetic mounting), the size of the strip photos to be placed in the mat and the size of the picture frame, scrap book page or magnetic mounting selected. Since strip photos are exposed with the subject matter oriented for viewing while holding the strip in a vertical position the rectangular openings are oriented so that the strip photos are displayed vertically. However, the mat may be oriented with the longest side set vertically or horizontally. Consequently, the mats of the present invention may be cut in two orientations for placement into standard sized frames.

The orientation of the rectangular openings cut into any given mat is only limited by the imagination of the user. If these orientations are not symmetric but irregular the user can develop a unique design by obtaining a mat of the desired size and placing the strip photos in an irregular pattern on the surface of the mat carefully marking their location, preferably in pencil that can be easily erased. The markings may be used as guideline for cutting the rectangular openings. The actual size of the openings will be smaller in both width and length than the strip photo so that the edge of the photos may be used to anchor the photo in place. For example, if the desired margin for securing the photo is ⅛″ then for a 1⅝″×8″ strip photo the rectangular opening dimension that the user would cut would be 2(⅛″) minus 1⅝″ or 1⅜″ along the width and 2(⅛″) minus 8″ or 7¾″ along the length. The same calculations would apply if the desired margin was ¼″ for a 2″×8½″ strip photo, 2(¼″) minus 2″ or 1½″ along the width and 2(¼″) minus 8½″ or 8″. The general equation would be: Width of the Rectangular Opening=2(margin desired for adhering the strip photo along the width)−(width of the strip photo) Length of the Rectangular Opening=2(margin desired for adhering the strip photo along the length)−(length of the strip photo)

If the orientations are symmetric then the desired number of strip photos will need to be determined to calculate placement of the rectangular openings in the mat. The following formulas may be used to determine a given variable knowing the remaining variables. Height of the mat (H)=2(X)+(L) L=(length of the strip photos−(2×matting margin along the length of the strip photo)) X=desired top and bottom margins Run of the mat (R)=2(X)+n(W)+(n−1)(Y) W=(width of the strip photos−(2×matting margin along the length of the strip photo)) X=desired width of the left and right side margin Y=desired distance between strip photos n=number of strip photos

For example, a standard sized picture frame that holds a mat having the dimension 8″×10″ is selected. The mat with three photos will be displayed so that the run is 8″ and the height is 10″, more particularly the length of the photos will be parallel to the 10″ width. Photo strips of 1⅝″×8″ will be displayed and the matting margin to adhere the photos to the mat will be ⅛″. The top and bottom margins are determined to be: X=(H−L)/2 or X=(10″−7¾″)/2 X=1⅛″ If the top and bottom margins are 1⅛″ it may be preferable to also have the right and left side margins be 1½″. In this case, the distance between the strip photos can be determined. Y=(R−2(X)−n(W))/(n−1) or Y=(8″−2(1¼″)−3(1⅝″−¼″))/2 Y=(8″−2″−1⅜″)/2 Y= 13/16″

As an example, the symmetric orientation of a given number of strip photos on mats having the dimensions of 9″×2″ and 11″×14″ as well as the standard scrapbook page size of 12″×12″ have been calculated. In the standard frame sizes the specifications are for both horizontal and vertical display as well as for both photo strip sizes. For the scrapbook page, the orientation of the photo strips has been calculated for both photo strip sizes.

9″×12″ standard size picture frame:

-   -   A. orientation of the mat wherein the 12″ dimension is the         height and 9″ is the run. Three 1⅜″×8″ sized photo strips are         positioned in rectangular openings with the length of the strip         parallel to the longest length of the mat. The matting margin to         be used to affix the photos to the mat will be ⅛″. In this         configuration, using the formulas listed above the top and         bottom margins are 1⅝″. Correspondingly, if it is desired that         the left and right margins have the same dimension then the         width between the four strip photos would to be approximately         13/16″.     -   B. orientation of the mat wherein the 9″ dimension is the height         and 12″ is the run. Six 1⅜″×8″ sized photo strips are positioned         in rectangular openings with the length of the strip parallel to         the shortest length of the mat. The matting margin to be used to         affix the photos to the mat will be ⅛″. In this configuration,         using the formulas listed above the top and bottom margins are         ⅝″. Correspondingly, if it is desired that the left and right         margins have the same dimension then the width between the four         strip photos would to be approximately, ½″.

11″×14″ standard size picture frame:

-   -   A. orientation of the mat wherein the 14″ dimension is the         height and 11″ is the run. Four 2″×8½″ sized photo strips are         positioned in rectangular openings with the length of the strip         parallel to the longest length of the mat. The matting margin to         be used to affix the photos to the mat will be ¼″. In this         configuration, using the formulas listed above the top and         bottom margins are 3″. Correspondingly, if it is desired that         the left and right margins be 1½″ then the width between the         four strip photos would to be approximately, ⅔″.     -   B. orientation of the mat wherein the 11″ dimension is the         height and 14″ is the run. Five 2″×8½″ sized photo strips are         positioned in rectangular openings with the length of the strip         parallel to the shortest length of the mat. The matting margin         to be used to affix the photos to the mat will be ¼″. In this         configuration, using the formulas listed above the top and         bottom margins are 1½″. Correspondingly, if it is desired that         the left and right margins have the same dimension then the         width between the four strip photos would to be approximately,         ⅞″.

12″×12″ standard scrapbook page:

-   -   A. Four 1⅝″×8″ sized photo strips are positioned in the         rectangular openings cut into the mat. The matting margin to be         used to affix the photos to the mat will be ¼″. In this         configuration, using the formulas listed above the top and         bottom margins are 2¼″. Correspondingly, if it is desired that         the left and right margins have the same dimension then the         width between the four strip photos would to be approximately,         ⅔″.

-   B. Four 2″×8½″ sized photo strips are positioned in the rectangular     openings cut into the mat. The matting margin to be used to affix     the photos to the mat will be ⅛″. In this configuration, using the     formulas listed above the top and bottom margins are 1⅞″.     Correspondingly, if it is desired that the left and right margins     have the same dimension then the width between the four strip photos     would to be approximately, 5/12″.

Magnetic sheets are commercially available in a number of sizes and may be provided or cut into 8″×10″ and/or 9″×12″. These sizes would fit either a locker door or refrigerator door, which are the most common uses contemplated. The specifications may be calculated in the same manner as those outlined above.

There are two manufacturing methods for producing the mat sizes and individual photo openings for the present invention. There are commercially produced mat cutters on the market. One such manufacturer is the Fletcher Terry Company (Farmington, Conn.). However cutting the mat openings for the strip photos would be time consuming. The alternative method of cutting mat sizes and individual photo openings would be by a paper die cutting machine. These machines could be retrofitted to cut each size frame opening with corresponding mat size and mat openings for each standard sized frame. Also, either mat board or quality poster board could be used in this process. A die-cutting machine could produce large quantities of each sized product contemplated for less cost. A die-cutting machine would also be used to cut the magnetic sheet cleanly and neatly.

Some manufacturers of paper products using die cutting are Brandon Die Cutting (Baldwin Park, Calif.) and UBK Enterprises (Chatsworth, Calif.). One manufacturer of die cutters and cutting products is Coast Cutters (South El Monte, Calif.).

The strip photos may be adhered to the mat openings by a band of adhesive that runs along a portion or the entire perimeter of the backside of each rectangular opening. A protective strip would cover adhesive band prior to use. To affixed a photo strip that consumer would expose this adhesive area by pulling off the protective strip. Preferably the adhesive would be only slightly tacky in order to secure the photo but not damage it in repositioning or removal. Some manufactures of adhesive for this application are Kruse Adhesive Tape (Huntington Beach, Calif.) and Newport Adhesive and Composites (Irvine, Calif.).

In use the consumer would purchase a desired standard sized photo frame and select the corresponding mat for that sized frame. The user would then proceed to remove the board insert inside the ready-made frame, leaving the glass intact. The user would then attach the strip photos to each rectangular opening by removing the protecting strip on the adhesive and affixing the photo over the rectangular opening, making sure the photo is straight in the mat. The mat with the strip photos is positioned in the frame with the strip photo images facing the glass, the board insert is replaced over the mat and the frame backing is secured in place. Then the frame can be hung or placed in a desire location for viewing. 

1. A mat for mounting at least one photo strip comprising: a mat having a viewing side and a back side, at least one rectangular opening to receive a strip photo said rectangular opening of a length and a width smaller than said strip photo said back side having a means for adhering said photo strip along the perimeter of said rectangular opening of said mat.
 2. A mat for mounting at least one photo strip comprising: a mat for a frame having a viewing side and a back side, at least one rectangular opening to receive a strip photo said rectangular opening of a length and a width smaller than said strip photo said back side having a means for adhering said photo strip along the perimeter of said rectangular opening of said mat.
 3. A magnetic frame for mounting at least one photo strip comprising: a magnetic mat having a viewing side and a back side, at least one rectangular opening to receive a strip photo said rectangular opening of a length and a width smaller than said strip photo said back side having a means for adhering said photo strip along the perimeter of said rectangular opening of said mat.
 4. A mat for mounting at least one photo strip according to claim 1 wherein said mat has dimensions for being received by a standard commercial sized picture frame.
 5. A mat for mounting at least one photo strip according to claim 1 wherein said mat is made of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, wood, glass, plastic, polymer, paper, cardboard, and magnetic sheet. 